Scoring method and tool



B. M; WILSON 2,223,503

SCORING METHOD Dec. 3', 1940. 4

AND TOOL Filed July 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

' .zra'z'nar man/ EORNEYS B. M. WILSON K 2,223,503

SCORING METHODAND TOOL Filed July 7, i939 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Illlllllllllllflll l filllmlllllm g3 mwsmon Bazaar/711T VViZsom BY T v d ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES: PA ENT OFFICE Brainard M. Wilson, Rochester, N. Y. assignor of one-half to Wilber E. Bowersock, Rochester,

'Application July 7, 1939, Serial No. 283,249

7 Claims.

I This invention relates to a scoring method and rotary creasing or scoring tools, such as commonly employed for scoring or embossing corrugated board stock or sheets, to prepare them for fold- 5 ing to make boxes, or other articles, one object of the invention being to provide an improved and more efficient method and tool of'the above character particularly useful, for example, for scoring corrugated board in a'dir'ection parallel to the corrugations therein, in such a manner that the board may be thereafter folded with substantial accuracy along said scoring, without requiring subsequent manual adjustment or straightening of the folded partsto their intended positions.

Another object is the provision of such a tool in a more practical, economical and convenient form of construction, as regards both the manufacture of the same, and its convenience in use for scoring corrugated board.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a known type scoring machine in which the scoring tool embodying the present invention may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a scoring tool or collar, embodying the present invention, cooperating with a mating, or platen, collar, in engagement with the opposite sides of a corrugated board;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the scoring collar as viewed from the left in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the scoring collar showing the construction and assembly of certain of the parts thereof;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a part of the collar as viewed from the line 511-511 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of another part of the collar as viewed from the line 6a- -5a in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line Ta- I-a in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation through parts of the collar and cooperating platen showing the action thereof on an interposed sheet of corrugated board;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a board creased by a scoring collar embodying the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation through a board scored by a collar embodying the present invention, but before folding, and

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing thejboard folded on the scored line. V

The same'reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts. I

The common and well known commercial corrugated board is composed of an inner, fibreboa'r'd sheet, corrugated-to form parallel, alternating ridges and depressions, with outer fibreboard facing sheets attached to the ridges on each side of the corrugated sheet by means of a suitable adhesive. In order to form such corrugated boar'd into shipping boxes'and other useful articles, fit isdesir'able to score it along predeterminedlinesso' that it may be folded to form panels or walls of suitable size and shape for the article to be made. Such board folds more readily, of course, along "lines substantially parallel" with the corrugations; and 'it is customary to score the board in such direction in an eifort to confine the folding accuratelyto predeterminedlines.

Such corrugated board has been commonly scored 'for the ab ove purpose 'by passing it between two tools, or metal collars, of varying sectional contours, commonly male and female, and designed to emboss or'score the board. A common form of'such collar for scoring the board has a sectioirfof V-shape contour orprofile, mating; with a cylindrical collar,- or shaft, between which the sheetto be score is fed in a straight line by suital'oleguides. The well kno'wnmethod of scoring described above produces a V-shap-ed score or indented line inone side of theboard. When the board is folded on such line'through 130 (in the manner in which, an open bo'okis closed), the substantial thicknessof C. to of the board produces a material compression in the facing sheet inside the fold, and a corresponding tension in the outer facing sheet, as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, showing the scored board before folding, and inFigQll showing-the result of folding on the score; As the',outer facing sheet substantially resists the imposed tensiomthe inner facing sheet buckles, for some distance .on each, side of the score line about which ,it folds. If the score line'happens to fall symmetrically on the crest of one of the ridges, or the bottom of one of the depressions of the inner corrugated sheet, the board Imay'fold with substan tial accuracy along the score line. As it is not practicable to locate the score line in this symmetrical relation to the corrugations, it falls, in asubstantial proportion of the work, between one of the ridges. and the adjoining depression of the corrugations, or, in other words, between adjacent points of attachment of the ridges of the corrugated sheet to the facing sheets, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The compression of the board between the collars causes the inner corrugated sheet to buckle and fold upon itself between such points of attachment, with the result that the inner sheet is commonly folded on itself at such points in three superposed layers or plies, which, with the facing sheets, makes five superposed plies of material. Opposite the ridges or depressions, however, there are only three superposed plies. the material between the points of attachment of the ridges to the facing sheets which tends to bias the folding of the board to the side of the score line presenting the fewer number of plies and less aggregate thickness. This is a difiiculty inherent in the construction of the board itself which has not been successfully overcome by the prior scoring collars, notwithstanding the fact they have been made with a relatively flat V- shaped contour, for the purposeof crushing the corrugations. to a substantial distance on each side of the score, line.

The above facts have presented the problem that such corrugated board, under the scoring treatment heretofore applied, has not uniformly folded with accuracy .along the predetermined score line because, in the compression and buckling of the inner facing sheet, shown in Fig. 11, the unequal bunching or thickness of the plies of material, at the opposite sides of the score line, has caused the folding to follow the line of corrugation, rather than the line of scoring, with the result that the folded parts have not fallen into proper position, or registration, relative to one another, and the resulting articles have tended to be irregular in size and shape. It has therefore been necessary to withdraw from the production, and manually adjust, or straighten, a large proportion of the folded sheets, with a large wastage of labor and materials, as well as impaired quality in the finished articles.

I have found that the above difiiculty may be largely overcome by a new construction of the scoring tool, which operates to score the board in such a manner that the folding conforms with substantial accuracy to the scoring line, and without being deflected to one side of it in cases where the scoring line falls unsymmetricallyin relation to the ridges of the corrugations.

My improved method is carried out in the present instance, by way of illustration, in a scoring tool preferably in the form of a metalcollar, or

ring, comprising an annular body portion indicated generally at I5, for mounting on adriving shaft. Such body portionis preferably made in halves |5a and l5b, clamped together as shown (Fig. 4) by means of bolts 15. The portions [511 and I5b' are preferably each made also in halves as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for convenience in assembly on the supporting and driving shaft l1, Fig. 2, about which they are clamped together by means of bolts [8. A key l9 secures the assembled body portion in driven relation with the shaft.

Located and clamped between the body portions 15a and 15b is a relatively :thin, annular, disk-like ring 20, Figs. 4 and 5, also preferably made, as shown, in halves for convenience in assembly on the shaft, each half being accurately located in relation to the body portion, as by means of dowel pins 2|, with openings to receive and clear the bolts I6, this. annular disk 20 being spaced from the shaft I! by an internal The result is an increased bunching of diameter 22 larger than that of the bearing surface of thebody portion. Y g

The annular disk 20 thus forms a rib projecting radially from and extending substantially continuously circumferentially of the body portion l5.- Its outer edge is rounded as shown to produce a smooth score line or indentation in the board, as indicated at 23, Fig. 9. 'Thediame ter of the body portion l5 and disk"20'is preferably about 8 inches, more or less, but may vary, of course, to suit different applications and uses. The disk 20 projects radially from the body portion to a substantial distance, as shown, some- What. greater than the depth of indentation'desired in the board.

The body portion I5 is preferably formed with a series of milled ribs 24a and 24b, projecting radially from the body portion I5, in uniformly 2O circumferentially spaced relation with one another, and extending laterally to a substantial distance from opposite sides of the circumferential rib 20. The inner ends of [these lateral ribs preferablyproject to the same or a slightly-less height from the body portion than the circumferential rib 20, as shown, and decrease in height toward their outer ends, having, preferably the slightly rounded contour shown in the drawings,

for indenting or scoring the material to a substantial depth adjacent the circumferential; rib.

rib 20, as shown. v I

It has been found that a good'result is obtained by arranging the lateral ribs at an angle of approximately 60 to the circumferential rib, as'shown, but suchan'gularity may be varied. to suit different conditions. of indentation from the outer ends on one series of lateral ribs across to the outer ends of the other series of lateral ribs is 'preferablysomewhat in excess of thearea of bending of the board and will also vary to suit different conditions, a Width of one, to oneand one quarter inches having been found desirable, for example, for

commercial. board of a thicknessv up to three-5, eighths of an inch. The lateral ribs on the same side ofthe circum'ferential ribv may be. spaced apart circumferentially about three-quarters of I an inch but this dimension like-wise will vary with varying conditions. r

Inuse, the scoring tool or collar is preferably mounted, as well understood in the art, on one of two parallel shafts forming part of any standard or suitable rotary scorer or slitter, of the character described. A suitable machine. of this type is shown schematically inFig. 1, wher'eqa scoring collar is mounted on an upper shaft 11, cooperating with a lower shaft 25, on opposite sides of a bed 26 over which theboard sheets are fed in any suitable Way from a stack 21. The shaft 25 opposite theone cnwhich the'collar is mounted maybe either the upper or lower shaft, as well understood in the art-,and serves a? a platen for supportingv the work against the scoring collar. This shaft'25 may be of suifiQ tively, on the other side of the circumferential 40 The effective width found desirable for the particular work to be done, and may be formed with an annular body, or tread, of rubber, or some other yielding material, 29, supported at its sides between flanges '30 on the body of the platen collar, as shown in Fig. 8.

In operation, the scoring collar and cooperating platen surface are located at such a distance from each other, with due regard to the work to be handled, as to somewhat compress the work, and substantially indent it by the projecting ribs 20 and 24a and 24b. The rib 20 forms an indentation 23, extending along the desired line of fold, while the lateral series of ribs form lateral indentations extending more or less transversely of the area of bending, as shown, for example, in Figs. 9 and 10.

Thereafter, as the board is folded, as shown in Fig. 11, the inner facing sheet may buckle somewhat, toward or from the outer facing sheet, as shown, but the folding of the inner facing sheet is confined substantially to the score line or indentation, 23, made by the circumferential rib 20, regardless of the point at which such score line falls with relation to the corrugations of the inner sheet, and without substantial deflection of the folding from the score line. The portions of board adjacent and on opposite sides of such score line are effectively conditioned for substantially accurate folding along the said line, and the result is that the sections of the board on opposite sides of the fold may be accurately brought together in the desired relation, or registration, with one another, for accurately producing the size and shape of box or otherv article to be manufactured from the board, thus obviating the wastage of materials, as well as the expensive labor heretofore required, in adjusting and straightening the folding of a large proportion of the folded work. i

While the scoring tool or collar is herein disclosed in a form of construction and arrangement of parts which has been found practicable and advantageous, for economy in manufacture and convenience in assembly and use in the scoring machine, various modifications and improvements of such construction and arrangement will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the general principle of construction described above, which is intended, of course, by way of illustration of the form of embodiment now preferred, rather than by way of limitation thereto, except as specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for scoring sheet material to prepare the same for folding, comprising a body portion having projecting therefrom a plurality of scoring ribs, one of said ribs extending substantially circumferentially of said body portion in the plane of the desired line of fold and others of said ribs extending transversely thereto outside said line of fold for conditioning said material to confine the folding thereof to said desired line of fold.

2. A scoring tool for scoring work for folding comprising a body portion, a scoring rib projecting radially from and extending substantially continuously circumferentially of said body portion, for scoring the work in a predetermined line of folding, and a series of scoring ribs projecting radially from said body portion in circumferentially spaced relation with one another and extending laterally from opposite sides of said circumferential rib,for scoring the work outside said line of folding.

3. A scoring tool for scoring work for folding comprising a body portion, a scoring rib pro-ject-,

ing radially from and extending substantially circumferentially of said body portion, a series of scoring ribs projecting radially from said body portion in circumferentially spaced relation with one another and extending laterally from said circumferential rib, said lateral ribs having their ends adjacent said circumferential rib projecting to substantially the same height from said body portion as said circumferential rib and decreasing in height outwardly therefrom.

4. A scoring tool for scoring work for folding comprising a body portion, a scoring rib projecting radially from and extending substantially continuously circumferentially of said body portion for scoring the work in a predetermined line of folding, and a series of scoring ribs projecting radially from said body portion in circumferentially and substantiallyluniformly spaced relation to one another and extending laterally from opposite sides of said circumferential rib for scoring the work outside said line of folding, said lateral ribs on one side of said circumferential rib being arranged in staggered relation to said lateral ribs, respectively, on the other side of said circumferential rib.

5. A scoring tool for scoring Work for folding comprising a body portion, a scoring rib projecting radially from and extending substantially circumferentially of said body portion, and a series of scoring ribs projecting radially from said body portion in circumferentially spaced relation to one another and extending laterally and angularly from opposite sides of said circumferential rib, said lateral ribs on one side of said circumferential rib being staggered in relation to said lateral ribsv on the other side of said circumferential rib, and said lateral ribs projecting at their inner ends to substantially the same distance from said body portion as said circumferential rib and decreasing in height adjacent their outer ends.

' 6. The method of scoring sheet material to prep-are the same for folding, comprising the steps of indenting said material in the plane of the desired line of fold to facilitate folding along said line, and also indenting said material in lines extending transversely of and outside said line of fold on both sides thereof for conditioning said material to confine the folding thereof to said desired line.

7. The method of scoring sheet material to prepare the same for folding, comprising the steps of indenting said material in the plane of the desired line of fold to facilitate folding along said line, and also indenting said material in lines extendng transversely to and outside said line of fold for conditioning said material to confine the folding thereof to said desired line.

BRAIN ARD M. WILSON. 

